11.14 pm, Tuesday February 14 2012

Victorian ALP supports gay marriages

20:08 AEDT Sat Nov 21 2009
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The Victorian ALP has increased pressure on the federal government to allow same-sex marriages after passing a motion supporting gay unions at its state conference.

A meeting of the party faithful in Melbourne on Saturday called for the federal government to change the Marriage Act to allow gay couples to marry.

A similar motion was passed at Tasmania's state Labor conference in July.

The state conference also called on the commonwealth attorney-general to refrain from interfering with the ACT government's steps towards relationship equality.

Australian Marriage Equality spokesperson Alex Greenwich said the action by the Victorian ALP would increase pressure on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to change the Marriage Act.

"Grass-roots delegates of the Labor Party are clearly in touch with the fact that the majority of Australians support this reform, and now they are demanding Kevin Rudd also heed public opinion", Mr Greenwich said in a statement.

"What we are seeing is a growing revolt in Labor ranks to affirm traditional Labor values like equality and oppose the disproportionate influence of the religious right."

The Australian Coalition for Equality also welcomed the move.

Spokesperson Corey Irlam said the vote endorsing same-sex marriage and the ACT's right to a civil partnership ceremony was "a strong sign that ALP rank and file members support full equality for same-sex couples".

The ACT's Legislative Assembly has passed laws for legally binding civil union ceremonies between same-sex couples.

Two previous attempts to recognise civil union ceremonies were rejected by both the Rudd government and the Howard government.

 
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